Pipe coating apparatus



Aug. 11, 1936. K. T. POTTHOFF PIPE COATING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec.8. 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet l BY 'IN}LE Z MRNEYS 7 sheep s-sheet 2 K. T.POTTHOFF PIPE COATING APPARATUS Uriginal Filed Dec. 8. 1950 m f mx.

Aug. 11, 1936.

Au 11, 1936. i K, T, P TTH FF 2,050,859

PIPE COATING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 8. 1930 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3Fig.5

j ATTORNEYS Aug. 11, 1936. K POTTHOFF 2,050,859

PIPE COATING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 8. 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4Fig.4

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ATTORNEYS 1, v1936. K. T POTTHOF'F 2,050,359

PIPE COATING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 8. 1930 '7 Sheets' Shee t 6Aug. 11, 193 K. T. POTTHOFF PIPE COATING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec.8. 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 A 0% ATTbRNEYS Fig. 10

INVEN M Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIPE COATINGAPPARATUS Kurt T. Pottholf, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to U. S.Galvanizing & Plating Equipment Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., acorporation of West Virginia 14 Claims.

This invention refers to an apparatus for coating the inside of pipes,tubes, etc.

The object of the invention is to provide an ap paratus forautomatically and uniformly coating the inside of tubular articles, sothat pipes to be coated, after having been fed either manually ormechanically to the apparatus, are automatically coated on the insidethroughout their entire length, and then being automatically dischargedfrom the apparatus.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists ofcertain other novel features of construction and arrangement of partswhich will be apparent from the disclosure herein and-more fullydescribed and shown by the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing an apparatus for enameling the insideof pipes, certain of the parts being omitted for clearness,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same,

Fig. 3 is an end elevation view of the apparatus from the right of Fig.1,

Fig. 4 is an end elevation view from the left of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation view of the traveling carriage, propellingand locking mechanism,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of Fig. 5 on line ZZ,

Fig. 7 is an' enlarged detail side elevation view of the upper righthand corner of Fig. 5 showing a portion of the. traveling carriage andpipe clamping device,

Fig. 8 is a plan view of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of Fig. 8 on line XX,

Fig. 10 is a side elevation view showing in detail and partial sectionthe spray gun mounting, automatic safety circuit breaking device andautomatically operated check valve for controlling functioning of fluidcontrol mechanism of spray un el Fig. 11 is a plan view of Fig. 10.

In the specific embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawings,and referring particularly to Figs. 1-4 inclusive, the apparatus of thisinvetion comprises a central mechanism for supporting and coating aplurality of pipes, tubes or the like, and on each side of this centralmechanism is a feeding mechanism supplying thepipfito the coatingmechanism and delivering the pipes therefrom in coated condition. Thedirection of the feed of the pipes through the apparatus is from frontto back in the direction of arrows in Fig. 2 so that the supplymechanism is in front in Figs. 1 and 2 and on the left in Fig. 3 and onthe right of Fig. 4, the discharge mechanism being on the opposite sideof the central coating mechanism.

The frame work of the machine (Figs. 3 and 4) comprises a series ofstandards I80 on the entrance side and supporting members I 8| on thedischarge side with the upper cross members I82 and lower cross membersI 63 connecting across between the opposite sides of the machine. Thelongitudinal channel bars 32 are supported by cross pieces I82 and inturn slidingly support the carrier 38 upon which is rotatably mountedthe drum member 23 holding the pipes to be coated. The drum member 23provides at each end the recesses or sockets 29 for the pipes andbetweensaid sockets extend the longitudinal trough members I16 which insection conform to the shape of the sockets 29. This drum member 23rotates counter-clockwise (Fig. 4) to pick up the pipes from the tracksI-2, and then moves to vertical position where it is locked againstrotation while the carriage 38 reciprocates longitudinally to move thepipes held in the upper sockets of the drum lengthwise on to and overthe spray nozzle extension 6 I, the nozzle spraying only dur ing thereturn movement of the carriage 38 and drum 23.

Upon completion of the spraying the drum 23 is unlocked and againrotates counter-clockwise (Fig. 4) to deposit the sprayed pipes on thetracks I 04, at the same time picking up a new load of pipes from thesupply tracks l2. The delivered pipes P roll down along the tracks I04and are picked up in sequence by the projections of the disks I15, whichdeposit them in accurately timed sequence in the sockets of a continuousdischarge conveyor (not shown) running over the sprockets I13 (Fig. 2)on the same shaft I14 with the delivery disks I15 and driven bysprockets from the drive shaft Ill.

The spray mechanism and controls therefor are shown at the right ofFigs. 1 and 2, the spray guns 12 having the extending nozzles 6|projecting substantially horizontal towards the left and mounted attheir left ends in bearings in the pedestal 36 of the reciprocatorycarriage 38. Intermediate their ends a removable support or bracket 6|is provided which is automatically turned downward out of the way ofmovement of the carriage engaging roller 63 to turn the beveled gear I11counter-clockwise (Fig. 2) so that the beveled gear I18 will turn thesupporting arm 64 down in advance of the movement of the carriage, andas the nozzle extensions 6| protrude further and further in through thesockets the pipes positioned in said troughs.

Fume exhaust" 'meansf provided. at'the left end of the machine (Figs-.1and'2), in. t e form of a hood member I46sup'ported fromthepedese I36 ofrod I34 to tip the hinged member I4I tal 31 so as to move with thecarriage 98, and sliding in the fixed tube I48 so as to provide apermanent outlet irrespective of the position of the reciprocatorycarriage 38.

The drive for the machine as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 comprises aprime mover I60 indicated as a pulley, but preferably an electric motor,driving the longitudinal shaft III upon which is the worm I6I, whichthrough worm wheel I62, shaft I63, clutch I64 and shaft I66 drives theworm I61 geared to the worm wheel I68 on shaft I69 carrying thesprockets III] for the feed conveyor 28. When the clutch lever I65 (Fig.3) is in position to connect the teeth of clutch I64, the feed conveyor28 is continuously driven to supply pipes to the entrance tracks I-2.Similarly the delivery conveyor (not shown) is continuously driven fromthe shaft III and picks up the pipes as they are carried over by theprojections of the discharge wheels I I5, which in turn pick up thepipes in sequence from the inclined discharge tracks I04.

The drive shaft "I is extended longitudinally to the worm and worm wheelcombination I8,

driving the transverse shaft I'I (Figs. 2 and 4), driving the gear I6and the gear wheel I5 running freely upon the shaft I05 but adapted tobe connected thereto by the clutch I3 engaging the orifice I4 of thegear so as to turn the sprockets I05 driving the endless chains 46.These chains reciprocate the carriage 38 through engagement of theroller 49 withthe faces of the brackets 51 and 69, and the drive forintermittently rotating the drum 23 is also provided by the movement ofthis chain driving the sprockets 45 (Fig. 4) to turn shaft 34, whichthrough gearing 44 continuously rotates the gear 44 intermittentlyrotating the gear 42 to give intermittent rotation to the drive gear 39,fixed on shaft 35 carrying the rotatable drum 23.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the drive for the carriage 39 is shown on enlargedscale together with portions of the drive for the rotary drum 23 and thelocking mechanism for the drum at 58, 59 and 60 to the right of Fig. 5,above which is shown in section the gripping means to hold the pipes inplace accurately alined with relation to the ends of the nozzleextensionv 6|.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show this gripping means for the pipes P on stillfurther enlarged scale, parts of the gripping means being omitted fromthese views for the sake of clearness. In general this gripping means isshown as mounted at the end I84 of the drum 23 fixed on the rotatableshaft 35 journaled in the pedestal 36 of the carrier 38. The grippingfingers 25, 30 pivoted as shown" are centered with relation to thesockets 29 and are actuated by the levers H8, H9 (Fig. 8), which in turnare operated automatically during the rotation of the drum by relativelongitudinal movements of the wedges I20 and I22 as hereinafterexplained, so that the pipes will be positioned in the sockets 29,thengripped and held therein during the coating operation, and thenautomatically released therefrom after the coating operation iscompleted.

The apparatus of this invention is also provided with automatic safetymechanism shown on enlarged scale in Figs. 10 and 11 so that any exi I g2,050,859 of the pag ne and into the troughs 11s or;

cess of pressure beyond a predetermined amount Alon any one of thenozzles 6| will automatically :cause the nozzle BI and its gun 12 andthe supporting parts I38, I39 to move backward against the pressure ofthe spring I35 and cause the head counter-clockwise (Fig. 10) to actuatethe switch I45 and immediately stop the machine. The detailed structureand operation of the apparatus will now be described starting with theautomatic feeding of the pipes to the holding drum 23.

Pipes to be coated inside or fed by conveyor 28 to runway formed bytracks I and 2 at the ends of the pipes (Fig. 4), and as the first pipeon the conveyor reaches the point where it will contact with projection3 of lever 4, it will force lever 4 out of its path.

Lever 4 is pivoted to standard 3I and connected by rod 6 to arm 'I andthrough the medium of shaft 8 causes lever 9 to turn counter-clockwise(Fig. 4), thus breaking the straight line formed by clutch rod II, linkI0 and lever 9.

The spring I2 by pressing clutch rod I I upward will continue themovement of the parts linked together until the long end of lever 9 isstopped by coming in contact with the main frame 32.

The upward movement of clutch rod II releases clutch pin I3 and spring I2' forces pin I3 into recess I4 in gear I5, which meshes with gear I6 onshaft H, which is driven through gear unit I8, which in turn is drivenfrom any usual source of power.

Should the enameling unit be operated as a single unit and the pipes fedmanually, the apparatus will be set in motion by manually shifting lever9, which will have the same effect as the pipe contacting withprojection 3 of lever 4, as

above described.

1he feed timing levers I9 (Figs. 2 and 4) are actuated through ratchetgear 20 and timed so as to synchronize with the delivery of pipe fromconveyor 28, the chain 28 running around sprockets indicated at 29'fixed on the same shaft with gear 20. Ends 2I of levers I9 momentarilystop the pipe as it rolls down runway I--2, and at the same timestraighten same, after which the pipe is released and continues downrunway and contacts with end stop 22.

As drum 23 starts to rotate counter-clockwise around axis of shaft 35(Fig. 4) when the apparatus is started, extensions 24 of clampingfingers 25 at one end (Figs. 5; 6 and 9) and the correspondingprojections 26 of fingers 21 at the other end engage under and pick upthe pipes in sequence while passingtracks- I and 2. The pipes roll downthe incline formed by projections 24 and 26 into pockets 29. After thepipe rolls down projections 24 and 26 one end of the pipe comes incontact with slanted projection 33 attached to the head bracket 36,where the pipes are shifted so that end of the pipes will be in astraight line. The clamping fingers 25-30 then clamp the pipe to thedrum 23 at the center of the pockets 29, as shown in Fig. 9, anddescribed in detail hereafter.

The drum 23 is mounted on shaft 35 resting in bearings of end brackets36 and 31 (Fig. 1), which in turn are attached to reciprocating carriage38. The drum 23 makes only one half revolution at a time and is drivenby means of is actuated by intermittent gear 44 (Figs. 4 and 1) driventhrough the medium of suitable gearing 44 from sprockets 45 on shaft 34,and so timed that the drum 23 makes one half revolution while thecarriage 38 is in a stationary retracted position.

This timing is obtained by proportioning the length of the drive chains46-46 of carriage 38 and the chain path in such a manner as to givesufiicient time for the roller 49 supported on a pin between chains46-46 (Fig. 6) to travel idle after leaving sprockets 41-41 and untilreaching sprockets 48-48 (Fig. During this time the carriage 38 isstationary while the chains 4646 continue their travel. The drum 23,having made one half revolution during which it is loaded with threepipes as above described, stops rotation holding the pipes in topposition, and the carriage 38, on which the drum is carried, is nowready to be moved toward the end where spray guns are located to threadthe pipes over the ends of the guns.

The carriage is locked to the frame during rotation of drum 23 and isreleased by roller 49 of continuously moving chains 46-46 contactingwith lever 58, (Fig. 5), levers 50 and 5| being both attached to shaft52 and turned counterclockwise by roller 49, thereby pushing lockingpiece 54 out of notch block I02 by means of rod 53, which is pivoted at56 to lever 5|.

The carriage .38 is started to move gradually from position shown inFig. 1 while the conveyor chains 4646 are passing over sprockets 48 byroller 49 pressing against guide surface 51 of bracket 51, which isattached to carriage 38. The speed of-carriage 38 is gradually increasedas conveyor chains pass around sprockets 48, and full speed obtained asit leaves the sprockets (Fig. 5). As the carriage 38 starts to move drumlockingpin 58 attached to bracket 36 is forced into socket 59 of thedrum by compression spring 60, thus locking the drum to the carriage andpreventing it from rotating during its travel from right to left andreturn (Fig. 1). As carriage 38 with drum 23 attached moves toward sprayguns, nozzles6| enter pipes which are now rigidly held. The ends ofnozzle extensions 6| are guided in bearings of bracket 36, which bracketis attached to carriage 38. 7

After nozzles have entered the pipes approximately halfway, there is nofurther need for the center nozzle supports, the cam 62 contacts withroller 63, moving nozzle support 64 out of position, permitting carriageto proceed to the extreme right, roller 63 after leaving cam rides alongframe of carriage.

Locking levers 25 are so arranged that when clamping a pipe (Fig. 9),their upper outline 24 bears a definite relation to the center line ofthe nozzles, thereby automatically turning off or on the flow of coatingfluid by preventing or allowing air to pass to fluid control chamber ofthe spray gun. When there is a pipe in socket 29 and held in position byclamping fingers 2530, the upper portion of clamping finger will thencontact, after the carriage has made its full movement, with plunger 66(Fig. actuating air valves 61 to open the valves one for each nozzle.However, should no pipe have been picked up, and, therefore, none in oneof the sockets 29, the corresponding clamping fingers will be closertogether and the upper portion of locking lever 25 will pass by thecorresponding plunger 68 and contact with plunger 65 and actuate thevalve 61 in the opposite direction,

closing it if open. Valves 61, one for each nozzle, are normally turnedon when the machine is in operation, and are provided only in case, nopipe is picked up at the loading end, and thereby prevent spraying theapparatus, and other pipes in position to be sprayed, should there be nopipe in one of the pockets 29.

The carriage 38, having travelled the full distance toward the spraynozzles, direction of travel is automatically reversed by the roller 49attached to the chains 46 running around sprockets 68 and contactingwith guide surface 69' of bracket 69 (Fig. 5) attached to carriage 38,and finally ending return travel of carriage 38 when roller 49 passesover sprockets 41 and 18 disengaging roller 49 from between surfaces 69'and 51'.

It is of particular importance to note the gradual speeding up of thecarriage from zero to full speed and the reduction of speed from fullspeed to zero on reversing motion of carriage, and again picking up fromzero to full speed, etc.

The movement of carriage having been reversed, the ends of nozzleextensions 6| of spray guns 12 are now at the extreme ends of the pipesto be enameled, and the roller 13 of lever 14, which is pivoted tocarriage 38 and held by means of spring in a horizontal position(Fig. 1) has passed over cam 16 secured to frame and engages upon thereversing of the carriage movement between the lower surface of cam 16and projection 11 of bell crank lever 18, which is pivoted to the frameand forces same to swing counterclockwise.

Rcd 19 pivoted to lever 18 and guided by brackets 88 is then pulledagainst spring tension of compression spring 8| until the end 82 of bellcrank lever 83 snaps behind the shoulder of ring 84 and locks it andlever 18 in position.

The control valves 85 and 86 for the spray nozzles are connected tolever 18 and are opened and held open by the latter.

The atomizing air then rushes through the main valve 81, regulator 88,automatic valve 85, air pipes 89, 90, hose 9|, gun 12, extension 6| andout of the spray nozzle end 92 (Figs. 3 and 1).

The coating fluid is brought to nozzle extensions by hose |5| supplyingcompressed air to spray fluid container I52, thus holding spray fluidunder pressure and forcing it throughhose I53. strainer I54. hose I55and into spray gun 12 and nozzle extension 6|. 7

The coating fluid is started to flow by the air coming through valve 81,pipe 93, automatic valve 86, pipe 94, automatic cutout valve 61 hose 95and into spray gun, actuating the fluid flow control piston of spray gun12, thereby releasing coating fluid at nozzle 92.

As the carriage continues to proceedLthe nozzle support 64 swings backinto positio through pressure of compression spring 96 supporting thenozzle extensions, and at the end of the return travel of carriage 38the stop bracket 91 on the carriage (Figs. 1 and 2) contacts with lever83 tipping it counter-clockwise and releasing connecting rod 19, therebyshutting off through movement of bell crank 18 spray fluid andatomization air through air control devices 85 and 85.

, At this stage the drum locking device is releasedby projecting head 98of locking pin 58 being held back by projection 99 of bracket I88 (Fig.6) which pulls out locking pin 58 from socket 59. Then the pilot pins4|( Fig. 5) engage with the should for any reason into notch I03 becausefollower gear 43 by sliding into the recesses 43 located in this gear,which is in mesh with intermittent gear 44 and at the same time carriageis locked to frame by slanted portion IOI of the block I02 raising lock54 and connected parts, which, as the carriage moves on, fall on accountof their weight into notch I03, locking the carriage 38 to frame 32.Should the look not fall in position, roller 49 after passing oversprocket 10 passes alon guide 69' and must pass over lever 50, pressingsame to turn clock-wise and positively force lock into notch I03.

The intermittent gear drive for rotating drum 23 is so timed that whenlocking pin 58 has been removed from the drum and carriage lock 54 is inplace, the drum starts rotation to discharge the pipes previouslyenameled, and also picks up at the opposite side pipes to be enameled.As the drum rotates to discharge the enameled pipe, the clamping fingersare opened in 'a manner similar to closing, and hereinafter described indetail, and tracks I04 (Fig. 4) engage the pipe to be discharged as thedrum rotates and they then roll down the incline portions of the tracks.

, In Figs. 5 and 6 is shown the complete path of the conveyor chain usedfor providing movement to the drum 23, carriage 38 and locking devicesaccording to the following description, which is here repeated so thefull cycle of the conveyor chain may be followed.

The two chains 46 are driven continuously by sprockets I05 along a fixedpath because of idle sprockets I06, 48, 63, 41,10, I01, and the drumdriving sprocket 45. The chains 46 are cross-connected by pin I08carrying roller 49. Durin one half revolution of the drum and one fullmovement of the carriage back and forth, conveyor chains 46 make onecomplete cycle. When the carriage has arrived at the extreme left-handposition, the carriage is locked to main frame 32 by means of lockingpiece 54, which is guided in bracket I09 and engages into notch of blockI02 of carriage 38. The carriage is unlocked before being set in motionby roller 49 moving levers 50 and 5I in direction indicated by arrow(toward sprockets 48), forcing lever 50 and lever 5I, both fixed onshaft 52, to turn counter-clockwise and thereby pushing locking piece 54out of engagement with block I02 through medium of rod 53, which ispivoted at 56 to lever 5|. Then the roller 49 continuing along its pathover sprockets 48 starts the motion of carriage 3B and accelerates itgradually to its full speed by pressing against guide surface of bracket51 secured with bracket 69 to carriage 38; thus carrying the carriagefor a full movement to the right, gradually reducing the speed to zero,and then reversing the direction of travel by passing around sprockets68 and movement of carriage ending gradually while roller 49 passes oversprockets 41 and 10.

Toward the end of the travel of the carriage to the extreme left theslanted portion IOI of block I02 raises lock 54 with its componentparts, which then falls because of its weight into notch I03, lockingthe carriage 38 to frame 32. After roller 49 passes over sprockets 10 itrides down guide 69' and passes lever 50, forcing same to turn clockwiseand thus positively locking carriage lock 54 have failed to fall of itsown weight.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show in. detail the clamping fingers 25-30 andcomponent and operating parts. The clamping device shown is actuated bythe rotation of drum 23. Roller IIO attached 'tion of drum 23.

the spring tension on clamping fingers.

to plunger III contacts with cam H2 and rides up incline II3, actuatingplunger III during rota- As roller I I0 contacts with cam II2, plunger III guided in,bearings H4 and H5 of drum head II6, forcing plunger towardcompression spring II1, releasing the pressure on levers H8 and H9 bymoving wedge I20'from contact with lever at ends I2I, thereby releasingSimultaneously wedge surfaces I22 move so as to contact, slightly later,with clamping fingers 25 and 30, thereby opening a gap between fingersso as to permit the pipeto enter.

While the drum 23 is rotating to pick up pipes, the clamping fingers 25roller I I0 attached to plunger III straight surface I23 of cam I I2.

The tubes having entered pockets 29, and drum continues to rotate,roller rides down cam surface I24, thereby moving plunger III so as torelease the clamping fingers, which contact with wedge shape surface I22and simultaneously, but a trifle later, wedge shape surfaces I20 contactwith corresponding wedge shape of levers H8, H9 at point I2I so thatrivets I25 force clamping fingers 25 and 30 together in order to firmlyhold the pipe in grooves I26 and I21 of clamping fingers 25 and 30.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that by applyinguniform pressure to both clamping fingers 25 and 30, and because of theshape of the clamping fingers, the pipe will automatically be centeredinrelation to pocket 29, which center bears. a definite relation to centerof nozzle 92. Should there be no pipe in pockets 29, the movement ofclamping fingers 25 and 30 riding on .will be limited by the surfaces|2a-|2s of clamping fingers 25 and 30 pressing against stem I30 ofplunger III, and the opening formed by the grooves- I26 and I21 ofclamping 30 will be of sufficient size to allow spray nozzle to passthrough.

As the pipes are picked up to be enameled and the drum 23 rotates forthis purpose, the roller I I0 of plunger I I I rides up the incline I I3of cam II2, thereby opening the clamping fingers 25 and 30, and theyremain open as long as roller IIO continues to ride along raised surfaceof cam, thus permitting the pipes to be picked up, rolled downprojections 24 and 26, and shifted by coming in contact with slantedprojection 33 attached to head bracket 36 so that that end of pipes willbe in a straight line, after which roller IIO rides down incline I24,permitting fingers to clamp pipes. eled and the drum 23 again starts torotate and discharge them, the action of the clamping fingers is merelyreversed and the pipes discharged, as previously described.

Figs. 10 and 11 show in detail mounting of the spray guns and automaticsafety circuit breaking device and automatically operated check valvecontrolling functioning of fluid control mechanism of spray gun.

The spray guns are mounted so as to allow lateral movement of same,which ,in turn will permit the attachmentof means for automaticallystopping the operation of the apparatus should for some reason anyobstruction take place to prevent the nozzles of the spray guns fromentering the pipe, as described following:

One or a number of spray guns may b mounted according to requirements.I3I and I32 are attached to standards I33 and the extended and 30 areheld open byfingers 25 and After the pipes have been enam- The barsprovide bearings for the rods I34, which in turn are held under tensionby compression springs I35.

The shoulder I36 of rod I34 is pressed against bar I32. The spray gunsare, by means of gun holders I31 which are guided in recesses I38 of barI3I, fastened to rod I34 with clamps I39.

In order to provide additional rigidity, the nozzle itself is held in afixed position by clamp I40 to spray gun holders I31.

The above described mounting of the spray guns now allows the lateralmovement of the gun above mentioned should nozzle strike any obstructionas carriage 38 with drum 23 attached start to move toward spray guns, inwhich event the nozzle would be forced back, which in turn would moverod I34 against pivoted bar I4I to to which is attached right anglebracket I42. As bar I4I swings on pivots I43, bracket I42 contacts withlever I44 of electrical switch I45. The electrical switch I45 being incircuit with driving means will tend to automatically stop functioningof the apparatus.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate at the extreme lefthand of apparatus, means forexhausting fumes that may be created during the coating of the pipe onthe inside. Hood I46 is attached directly to bracket 31 of carriage 38and so located that ends of pipes to be coated extend inside of same.

Pipe I 41 is attached directly to hood I46 and slides inside of pipeI48, which in turn is supported on bracket I49.

This construction provides a continuous exhaust connection as thecarriage travels to and from spray guns. At the end I50 of pipe I48 anysuitable means may be connected for creating a suction to draw ofifumes.

The operation of the apparatus in feeding, coating and discharging thepipes is entirely automatic, and is quick in its action in that theentire operation occupies less than one minute, and the number of pipesper minute will depend upon the number of them held by the holder 23 foreach operation.

In the specific embodiment shown three pipe sockets are indicated, but alarger or smaller number can be used, and in actual practice thehandling of five pipes together in a group has proven advantageous,andresults in a rate of treatment that is made to easily correspondwithother preceding treating apparatus and subsequent drying means forhardening the coating in place on the pipe surfaces.

This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending applicationSerial No. 24,053 Apr. 18, 1925, which'issued as Patent-1,789,596.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for treating pipes, the combination with means forholding a pipe, of means for treating the pipe, means for producingrelative movement between said holding and treating means, and means forautomatically discontinuing said last named means upon a predeterminedexcess resistance to movement between said holding and treating means. I

2. In pipe treating apparatus, the combination with means for receivingsaid pipes and holding means, a feed for supplying said pipes binationwith treating means, of means for holding and moving the pipes withrelation to said treating means and comprising movable members forengaging said pipes and automatically centering diii'erent sizes ofpipes with relation to 5 said holding means comprising resilient meansadapted to grip said pipes at a plurality of points.

4. In apparatus for treating pipes, the combination with treating means,of means for holding said pipes and producing relative movement betweensaid pipes and said treating means, and comprising a drive having achain means to reciprocate said holding means and rotary gears forintermittently rotating said holding means.

5. In apparatus for treating pipes, the combination with treating means,of means for holding said pipes and producing relative movement betweensaid pipes and said treating means, and comprising a drive having achain means to reciprocate said holding means and rotary gears forintermittently rotating said holding means, said gears being driven bysaid chain means.

6. In apparatus for treating pipes substantially 2 long in proportion totheir diameter, the combination with treating means, of a rotary carrierhaving elongated trough members adapted to receive and position saidpipes with relation to said treating means, means for moving said 30rotary member with relation to said treating means, and means forautomatically timing said rotary member to first rotate it into positionwith relation to the treating means and then to move it longitudinallyrelative thereto throughout sub- 35 stantially the entire length of thepipes.

7. In apparatus for treating pipes substantially long in proportion totheir diameter, the combination with treating means, of a rotary carrierhaving elongated trough members adapted to receive and position saidpipes with relation to said treating means, means for moving said rotarymember with relation to said treating means, means for automaticallytiming said rotary member to first rotate it into position with relationto the treating means and then to move it longitudinally relativethereto throughout substantially the entire length of the pipes, andmeans for locking said moving means during rotation of said rotarymember.

8. In apparatus for coating pipes, the combination with coating meansfor coating the interior surfaces of the pipes, of means for holding thepipes and producing relative movement between the pipes and coatingmeans, exhaust means for carrying away the fumes of said treatment atone end of said pipes, and means for automatically continuouslypositioning said exhaust means with relation to said pipes during themovement of said pipes under treatment.

9. In a pipe coating mechanism a plurality of spraying nozzles adaptedto be inserted through the full lengths of corresponding pipes, amovable carriage for the pipes comprising supporting means adapted toposition the pipes in aline- 65 ment with said nozzles, a bracketmounted to move with said carriage and having openings alined with saidpipes and permanently supporting and alining said nozzles in relation tosaid tubes throughout the entire range of movement 70 of said carriage,and means for reciprocating the full lengths of corresponding pipes, amovable carriage for the pipes comprising supporting means adapted toposition the pipes in alinement with said nozzles, a bracket mounted tomove with said carriage and having openings alined with said pipes andpermanently supporting and alining said nozzles eccentrically inrelation to the lower surfaces of the tube bores throughout the entirerange of movement of said carriage, and means for reciprocating saidcarriage to insert and withdraw said nozzles the full length of saidtubes.

11. In a pipe coating mechanism a plurality of spraying nozzles adaptedto be inserted through the full lengths of corresponding pipes, amovable carriage for the pipes comprising supporting means adapted toposition the pipes in alinement with said nozzles and grip said pipes attheir end portions adjacent said nozzles, a bracket mounted to move withsaid carriage and having openings alined with said pipes and permanentlysupporting and alining said nozzles in relation to said tubes throughoutthe entire range of movement of said carriage, and means forreciprocating said carriage to insert and withdraw said nozzles the fulllength of said tubes.

12. In a pipe coating mechanism a plurality of spraying nozzles adaptedto be inserted through the full lengths of corresponding pipes, amovable carriage for the pipes comprising supporting means adapted toposition the pipes in alinement with said nozzles with the center linesof the pipes above the center lines of the nozzles, a

bracket mounted to move with said carriage and having openings alinedwith said pipes and permanently supporting and alining said nozzles inrelation to the lower surfaces of the tube bores throughout the entirerange of movement of said carriage, and means for reciprocating saidcarriage to insert and withdraw said nozzles the full length of saidtubes while maintaining the upper surface of the nozzles spaced from thetube bore to provide continuous air spaces through the upper portion ofeach of said tubes during the withdrawal movement of said nozzles, andmeans actuating said nozzles to cause them to project sprays toward oneend of the tubes continuously during said withdrawal.

13. In a pipe coating mechanism for pipes substantially ten feet inlength, a plurality of spraying nozzles adapted to be inserted throughthe full lengths of the corresponding pipes, a movable carriage for thepipes comprising supporting means adapted to position the pipes inalinement with said nozzles, a fixed nozzle guide attached to saidcarriage and having guiding openings permanently fitted over saidnozzles so that said spray nozzles are correspondingly longer than 20said pipes.

14. In a pipe coating mechanism a plurality of spraying nozzles adaptedto be inserted through the full lengths of corresponding pipes, amovable carriage for the pipes comprising supporting 25 means adapted toposition the pipes in alinement with said nozzles, a bracket mounted tomove with said carriage and having openings alined with said pipes andpermanently supporting and alining said nozzles in relation to saidtubes 39 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,050,859. August 11, 1936.

KURT T. POTTHOFF.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5,first column, strike out lines 66' to '74 inclusive, comprising claim 2,and in t instead the following as claim 2:

2. In pipe treating apparatus, the combination with means for receivingsaid pipes and 'holding and moving them in predetermined relation totreating means, of a drive for said holding means, a feed for supplyingsaid pipes to said holding means, and means associated with said feedfor automatically starting said drive by the movement of a pipe alongsaid feeding means and that the said Letters Patent should be read withthis correction thereir that the same may conform to the record of thecase in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of November, A. D. 1936.

Henry Van Arsdale

